HISTORY OF UNION POINT METHODIST CHURCH

NOVEMBER 1948 TO JULY 1, 1962

Union Point Methodist Church, located on the Chatsworth Highway, just out­

side the city limits of Dalton, Georgia, was organized on a Wednesday night the

latter part of November 1948. Rev. Eugene Bartenfeld was in charge of the meeting.

Union Point has long been a landmark for the Dalton area. For many years the old

Union Point School, a Whitfield County grade school, was a familiar site. Tradition

dates the first one room school house back to ante-bellem days, but the first re­

corded deed is dated 1899. Celestia Ann Richardson deeded an acre of ground to the

Whitfield County School Board to be used for Union Point School. The school moved

when Eastside School was built. On January 29, 1949, the property was secured from

Mrs. W. C. Bowen, Sr. and Mr. W. C. Bowen, Jr. for the sum of $1500.00 for a Methodist

Church. The deed was filed for record in Whitfield County Courthouse May 23, 1949,

Book 53, Page 268-70, and was signed by three charter trustees of the Church - john

Walraven, Earl F. Land, Jr., Fred L. Buckner, Sr. and by Russel G. Weems, Sr., who

had replaced Aaron Bartenfeld. The Board of Missions of the Methodist Church donated

$100.00. The deed contains the trust clause. The original acre has diminished to

three-fourths acre because of changes in the highway adjoining the property and due

to the sale of a few feet of ground to Floyd Painter for the sum of $300.00, which

was used in paying for the property.

There were twenty-two charter members enrolled as follows: Aaron Bartenfeld, Nrs.

Aaron Bartenfeld, Fred L. Buckner, Mrs. Fred L. Buckner, Billy Jack Buckner, Mrs. Patsy

Buckner Cole, Earline Brackett, Mrs. W. W. Ellis, Earl F. Land, Jr., Mrs. Earl F. Land,

Jr., Mrs. j. C. Locke, Mrs. Pauline Nonnan, Bobbie Ruth Nonnan, Roy Richardson, Mrs.

Roy Richardson, Allo Richardson, Robert B. Stancil, Mrs. Robert B. Stancil, Mrs. John

F. Tucker, John Walraven, Hrs. john Walraven and Mrs. J. M. Williams. Nine of the

twenty-two are still active at this date.

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At the organizational meeting, the church school and the church officers were

elected as follows:

Sunday School Superintendent Earl F~ Land, Jr. n " Sec. &' Treas. Mrs. J. C. Locke

" II Adult Teacher Mrs. Earl F. Land, Jr. H " Youth Teacher Mrs. Aaron Bartenfeld

" II Primary Teacher Mrs. Roy Richardson II II Choister Aaron Bartenfeld

" " Pianist Miss Allo Richardson

Church Secretary Mrs. Earl F. Land, Jr. Church Treasurer Earl F. Land, Jr.

Stewards Aaron Bartenfeld, Ch., Mrs. J. C. Locke, Earl F. Land, Jr. & Mrs. Roy Richardson

These officers served for several months and these changes were made. Mrs.

F. D. Buckner became the adult teacher and Mrs. Earl L. Land, Jr. became the junior

teacher. Mr. F. L. Buckner and Mr. John Walraven replaced two stewards.

Mrs. Earl F. Land, Jr., the first Church Secretary, has continued to serve and

is the present Secretary. Mr. James R. Combs became Church Treasurer in June 1950

and served until June 1957. At this time, Mr. Leon Langston became Church Treasurer

and serves at the present time.

The preachers who have served the Union Point Church or Charge are as follows:

Rev. Eugene Bartenfeld 11/30/48 to 2/49 Mrs. Peter Manning 2/49 to 6/49 Rev. Wallace Greene (Fairview) 6/49 to 6/50

Associate - Rev. J. E. Brashear, * Rev. Earl B. Carter 6/50 to 6/52* Rev. William Blanton, Jr. 6/52 to 3/53* Rev. Bruce Janes 3/53 to 6/54* Rev. :&nery Brackman 6/54 to 6/55

Rev. Horace Webb 6/55 to 6/56 Rev. H. V. Ivestor 6/56 to 6/57 Rev. Reid McClurd 6/57 to 6/59 Rev. Coy Burnett eo 6/59 to 6/60

* Rev. William Fraker 6/60 to 6/61 Rev. W. H. Brackett 6/61 to

-::. Emory Theology Students.

In June 1953 Fairview, Dalton was placed on the Union Point Charge and stayed

until June 1956. Mineral Springs was placed with Union Point in 1959-60. W. H.

Brackett assisted Coy Burnetteand William ~1raker by serving the Mineral Springs Church.

In June 1961, Coy Burnett accepted Mineral Springs Church.

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The following District Superintendents have served Union Point Church:

Rev. Peter Manning 1947 - 1951 Rev. H. C. Stratton 1951 - 1955 Rev. W. H. Gardner 1955 - 1959 Rev. E. D. Rudisill 1959 ­

Under the leadership of Rev. Earl B. Carter, an Emory Theology student from

Arkansas, sixteen new members were added, an M. Y. F. Was organized, a vestibule

and two Sunday School rooms were built, a gas heating system was installed and other

church improvements made which cost approximately $2,750.00. In August 1951, Andy

Foreman, an Emory student from Louisiana, accepted Earl Carter's invitation to hold

a series of revival services. The inspiration received from these services still

lives in all members heats today.

On a Sunday in September, 1952, the old church was dedicated. Rev. H. C. Stratton,

D. S. was in charge of the service. Mrs. Peter Manning, Park Street Church, Atlanta,

filled the pulpit in the morning. A basket dinner was spread outside and the dedication

service was in the afternoon. Mrs. Manning began a building fund for a new church

building during the lunch hour. $103.00 was collected and placed in a savings account

at the First National Bank. Jack L. Arthur contributed the first five dollars.

During Horace Webb1s pastorate, a large new room was added to the back of the

church at a cost of $1,000.00. This room has now become two Sunday School rooms.

In 1959 under the capable leadership of Rev. Coy Burnette, the new modern brick

Union Point Church was errected at a cost of $10,587.12. It fronts on to the old

building which was converted into an educational building. The new sanctuary is 34

feet wide and 64 feet long. It will seat over two hundred people. The building

committee active at this time was as follows: P. L. Langston, Sr., Roy Evans, Earl

F. Land, Jr., Russel Weems, Sr., F. L. Buckner, Floyd Painter, Clifton Reese, James

R. Combs and John Walraven. Special services were held on Sunday, November 29, 1959

to consecrate the building and this was followed by a fellowship dinner which was served

in the old building. A large number of church members, their families and friends,

who through the years had donated time, money and prayers for the growth of the church,

attended the dedication November 19, 1961. Rev. Coy Burnettewas in charge of the service.

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The Church School was never ceased to function since it was organized in

November 1948. Those who have served as superintendents are as follows: Earl F.

Land, Jr., Russel G. Weems, Sr., John Walraven, John Sharpe, Harold McClain, James

R. Combs, Bob Combs and Bill Evans. W. L. Evans is the present superintendent. The

first yearly average attendance was Il-tt with offering of $5.00. The 1961-62 yearly

average attendance was 40t with $19.00 offering.

Union Point has had several Vacation Bible Schools. Miss Bert Winter and her

helpers were in charge of one and Miss Ann Heard assisted with one. Pastors, Sunday

School teachers and W.S.C.S. members have taught the otpers.

The youth has always been a source of inspiration to the church. The M.Y.F. has

not functioned consistently, but the youth have served the church in many capacities.

This group was organized in 1950 under the leadership of Earl B. Carter and William

Combs was the first president. Other presidents have been Nancy Evans, Joe Evans,

James Newton, Leon Langston, Jr., Frankie Land, Rebecca Reese and at the present time,

Wayne Weems is serving. Under Reid McClurdts pastorate, the M.Y. F. bought a rug for

the aisle of the old church. It is being used in the nursery at the present date.

Under Frankie landIs leadership, two dozen Cokesbury Hymnals were bought, window screens

were replaced and a ping pong table was purchased. Under Becky Reece1s leadership,

gravel was bought for the driveway. Counselors who have served are as follows: Mr. and

Mrs. Gordon Wills, Mr. & Mrs. John Walraven, Mr. ~1 Mrs. Earl F. Land, Jr., Mr. & Mrs.

Floyd Painter and Mr. &' Mrs. Bob Combs.

The Womens Society of Christian Service has always been the right arm of the church.

It was organized January Ib, 1949 at the church with Mrs. Peter Manning and Mrs. J. E.

Gaines as principal speakers. Mrs. F. L. Buckner was elected president. She served

capably for three years and lauer served again. Other presidents who have served are

}Irs. James R. Combs, Mrs. Earl F. Land, Jr., Mrs. Bob Combs and Mrs. KathrYne Baker.

Mrs. Baker is serving at the present date. Union Point has no parsonage and in the

early days the women opened the doors of their homes to the young student pastors. Later

they rented a room from Mrs. Walter Stancil. Tile Society has been active in every phase

of local church work from the humble office of janitor to filling the pulpit once in the

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absence of the pastor. The society has participated in district and conference work_

Our outstanding work has been buying a new piano for the church with funds raised from

a chicken supper and a contribution of $4,150.82, which was applied on payment of the

new church building. This contribution was raised by the sale of vanil1ia, cards and

holding rummage sales. The following verse quoted from the Presidentls report May 7,

1955, reflects the spirit and work of the W.S.C.S.

liTo undergird our local church This -- has been our big research. Pulling together "in one accord" Welve done our best to serve our Lord."

There are eighteen members at the present date. We humbly submit the names of all

W.S.C.S. members who have been enrolled and who have served so faithfully: Mrs. Esther

Acree, Mrs. Minnie G. Ault, Mrs. Kathryne Baker, Hrs. Fred L. Buckner, Mrs. W. H.

Brackett, Mrs. Clarence Carr, Mrs. James R. Combs, Mrs. Bob Combs, Mrs. Joe Cavender,

Mrs. Jee Dempsey, Mrs. Roy Evans, Mrs. Sibyl Ellis, Mrs. Lucille Freeman, Mrs. Ethel"

Faulkner, Mrs. Mildred Ivester, Mrs. Walter Johnston, }Irs. Katherine Jennings, Mrs. Earl

F. Land, Jr., Mrs. A. L. Keys, Mrs. J. C. Locke, Mrs. Peter Manning, Mrs. Frances Mathis,

Mrs. Reid McClurd, Mrs. Nick Newton, M.rs. James Newton, Mrs. Floyd Painter, Mrs. Clifton

Reese, Mrs. Earl Ray·, Mrs. Ben Richardson, Mrs. John Sharpe, Mrs. Russel Weems, Sr.,

Mrs. John Walraven, Mrs. E. G. Yeager, Miss Genia Combs and Miss Doris Keys.

To date there has been only one funeral service in Union Point Church and this

service was not for a member of the church. Bethel Methodist Church was under con­

struction at the time and our church was chosen. We have had three weddings in the church.

On June 2, 1957, Peggie Dodson was married to Harold McClain. Rev. H. V. Ivester prefozmed

the ceremony. On February 7, 1960, Dollie Evans was married to Horace Grey. Rev. Coy

Burnetupreformed the ceremony. On December 23, 1961, Lavania Reece was married to

Vernon Gordon. Rev. W. H. Brackett preformed this ceremony.

Union Point has received many contributions and greatfully appreciates them all.

The pulpit bible was donated to the church by Mrs. Jessie Moody, mother of Mrs. James R.

Combs and a member of Tunnel Hill Methodist Church. A communion service was given to the

church by Allene and Herschel Bates, also members of Tunnel Hill Methodist Church. An

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alter set was donated by Drennon Crutchfield, First Methodist Church, Dalton.

At present the church membership is seventy-five. There are fifteen enrolled

in the M. Yv F. and eighteen active members in the W. S. C. S.

Th03 sources from which this history has been derived are old check stubs, church

records, deeds, charter members, W.S.C.S. records, the Dalton Citizen and first hand

infonnation from the present members.

Mrs. James R. Combs Historian